TEMPE, Ariz. -- Let's face it: Waiting your turn is not popular in sports. Not at the college level. Not when it's easier to transfer and start over.

No. 18 Arizona State flexed its star power in Thursday night's 45-14 season-opening win over lower-division Weber State in front of 52,133 fans at Sun Devil Stadium, but we'll get to the big names shortly. The better story came from two less-heralded players, two who have watched opportunity leapfrog them time and time again.

More than likely, only die-hard ASU fans know the backgrounds of Gary Chambers and Marcus Washington. They're both local products, but neither was heavily recruited out of high school. Chambers, a junior receiver, entered Thursday's contest without a career catch to his credit. Not a measly one.

And yet, he scored ASU's first touchdown of the season — an 8-yard strike from senior quarterback Taylor Kelly that gave the Sun Devils a 10-0 first-quarter lead.

Chambers later hauled in a 38-yard Kelly pass that set up another score.

Entering Thursday, Washington's road offered all kinds of twists and turns. Washington — who believes he's the oldest player on the team at 24 — entered the program as a running back under previous coach Dennis Erickson.

He then switched to tight end, contributing mostly on special teams.

Last spring, coach Todd Graham moved Washington, a senior, to defense, an attempt to help fill the holes left by nine starters.

In preseason practice, Washington spent time at Devil-backer, weak-side linebacker and spur linebacker, trying to do whatever he could to find a home.

Graham said he liked Washington's explosiveness, but it was still hard to see where the linebacker would fit. Again, he looked like the odd man out, and that may be the case for the rest of this season.

But Thursday, Washington got a chance, and on at least one play, he produced.

Early in the second quarter, Weber State, then trailing only 17-0, had possession inside ASU's 5. ASU defensive tackle Jaxon Hood and freshman linebacker D.J. Calhoun stopped running back Zach Smith on second down. Senior end Marcus Hardison made a nice play on third.

That set up fourth down from the 1, and this time it was Washington breaking through the line to stuff Smith, saving a touchdown, giving possession back to the Sun Devils.

And, of course, it still helps to have star power. You can't win without it.

The Sun Devils never were in danger against Weber State — they led 31-0 at halftime — and most of that was because of their offensive talent.

Kelly has had better days, but he still completed 18 of 27 for 238 yards and a touchdown.

Junior running back D.J. Foster rushed for a career-high 147 yards and three touchdowns, while junior receiver Jaelen Strong caught nearly everything in his zip code, which on this night added up to 10 receptions for 146 yards.

Nearly all those fireworks came in the first half. (Interestingly, fans missed out on the usual fireworks fired after ASU touchdowns. In a statement, the school said the City of Phoenix Aviation Department and the Federal Aviation Administration had concerns because of the "busy holiday travel time.")

Graham mixed in his second-teamers in the second half, giving his younger players a chance to earn experience. In all, the third-year ASU coach played seven true freshmen, — defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood, linebackers D.J. Calhoun and Christian Sam, cornerbacks Armand Perry and Chad Adams, as well as running backs Kalen Ballage and Demario Richard.

By the time it was over, two things were clear: This ASU team has a lot of potential, but it also needs to grow, and not just on defense. The Sun Devils were jittery at times (it took three possessions to produce Chambers' touchdown), but they did what they were supposed to do, which sometimes is more difficult than it sounds. It's not easy pleasing everyone, these days.

Like Chambers and Washington, the Sun Devils will have to stick with it. Tougher battles are ahead.

West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Jordan Thompson makes a catch against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Bradley Sylve during the third quarter of the 2014 Chick-fil-a kickoff game at Georgia Dome.
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Texas A&M Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin talks with his players in the huddle during a review during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium.
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